On Business Be bold and take chances. Boldness will never replace skills, but boldness and skills can help create opportunity. Don’t take unnecessary risks, but do step outside your comfort zone. The old adage is true “Nothing ventured; nothing gained”. It can pay to be first, so always look for the shot to be first. Learn your subject matter better than anyone else. Don’t just learn it, but practice and polish your delivery. There is a difference between arrogance and confidence. Weaker men may not be able to tell the difference; ensure you do. My clients are all adults and like to be treated as adults and with respect. You choose your clients; you have to know what direction you want to go and who you want as a client. My career in the United States Air Force was the same as many others; the difference was in my approach and application. USAF Service I entered the USAF in 1988 as a Security Policeman/Security Specialist. I was trained in Industrial Security, Air Base Ground Defense, and Anti-Terrorism. I qualified with... Continue reading

-Suarez International Tier 1 Staff Instructor Jon Payne We often are so comfortable with the past that we can stagnate and fail to see progress or recognize what the future can be? With technology changing so fast, can you really afford not to be on the cutting edge? Let’s talk about the AK for a moment. We’ve all seen the Chicom Poster “Keep That Crap off My AK!” How long did it take us to get past that? First we added folders because it just made sense to make the rifle easier to store and carry. The next move was to add a flash suppressor because we wanted to dampen the fireball coming from the AK’s muzzle and a compensator just isn’t needed on a semi-automatic rifle. It wasn’t long until we began mounting Aimpoint Micro’s on our AK’s using the Ultimak Rail. If you add a flashlight to the package you have a real squared away CQB rifle. Up until a short time ago an AK set up in this fashion was the apex of the Kalashnikov Fighting Rifle.... Continue reading

- Suarez International Staff Instructor Jon Payne I have been asked many times, “What classes should I take next"? If you’re reading this there is a good chance you’ve gone through all the steps to acquire a handgun, obtained your CHL (if needed), bought quality concealment gear, and you’re ready to take a basic course such as Defensive Pistol Skills (DPS). DPS is where it all begins. DPS introduces you to the fundamentals of marksmanship, basic weapon manipulation/gun handling skills, and immediate action. DPS also cultivates the Fighting Spirit or Warrior Mindset. By completing DPS you now have the same skills that are taught to police cadets and members of the military that are issued a sidearm. You should have confidence in your sidearm and your abilities to keep it in the fight. DPS is what I call a very good start. With a solid foothold with your fundamentals you’re ready to start learning. So what’s next? Close Range Gunfighting (CRG) is Suarez International’s flagship course and an intermediate class. In order to attend this class you have to know... Continue reading

-Suarez International Staff Instructor Jon Payne So I ask myself, “Where did all this begin?” How does one become a gunfighter? First and foremost one has to recognize the need for self-preservation. There are people that will never willingly cause harm to another living creature. I can deal with that and even accept it as long as they don’t portray themselves to be something they’re not. Don’t come at me with the judgmental moral high ground B.S., back in the days of caves and big sticks you would be mine. Want a glimpse of that cave man behavior? Look no further than the prison system. If you can’t fight and protect what’s yours, your possessions and your dignity will be taken unless you have something to offer of value to someone who can protect you. If you’re reading this you’ve probably made the decision that you are willing to fight for what is yours. The way I see it, if it’s not worth fighting for is it really worth having? Coming to the realization that only you are responsible for... Continue reading

The Realities of an Attack By Cliff Wiese and Jon Payne We have control of few variables in a real-life attack. Actual violence can happen to you anytime and anywhere…obviously, being in bad places at bad times increases the likelihood of an assault. How do we avoid attacks in bad places at bad times? Just don’t go there. If only we could control all the variables of a real-life attack that easy. How many things about an attack do you control? Very few. When, where, time of day, gun, knife, the number of adversaries, the list goes on and on, all items that are out of our control and unknown. Does this make us helpless? Of course not, warriors fight through the unknowns, bringing overwhelming violence when the bad guy or guys decide to pay you a visit. How can we prepare to the best of our ability to win a confrontation? Mindset is an important aspect that we control. You must be ready to do whatever is necessary to win the fight. When fighting for your life there are... Continue reading

-Suarez International Staff Instructor Jon Payne I have seen the problem before; they will try and twist themselves into a pretzel trying to shoot anything you put in their hands. What I am seeing is “Cross-Dominance”. People are either right-handed or left-handed with the majority being right-handed. Those who are right-handed are usually right-eyed. Those who are left-handed are usually left-eyed. I left the idea of being normal behind years ago and the law of averages never seems to work in my favor. I am “Cross-Eye Dominant”. As a youngster I was not comfortable with a rifle and couldn’t break glass in a phone booth with a shotgun. I took to the pistol very quickly, but it was years before I understood why. My father was a car salesman and my mother a surgical nurse. I was raised in a non-shooting home. Dad had a small revolver he kept for home protection, but I never saw him shoot it. My Papaw told me stories about hunting and growing up during the Great Depression but was too old to take me... Continue reading